Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s office has issued a statement following the publication of a photo of him and alleged white supremacist Jon Latvis.

The mayor posed for a photo with the man during the 2012 New Year’s Levee at city hall, as he did with hundreds of visitors that day, the statement says.

The man requested a second meeting, which occurred in March, primarily to discuss transit, but used a name other than Latvis, the statement said.

The mayor was never aware of allegations the man had made racist or offensive comments, according to the statement.

Latvis was once the lead guitarist for a neo-Nazi band called Rahowa (Racial Holy War).

A photo of Ford and a man dressed in a militaristic uniform is posted on a Facebook page identified as belonging to Jon Latvis. The writer says his goal was to get the mayor’s endorsement for the “Latvian Homeguard.”